Qatar Airways’ exclusive Al Safwa First Lounge at Hamad International Airport has been presented the prestigious Seven Star First Class Lounge Award by the Seven Stars Luxury Hospitality and Lifestyle Awards at an award ceremony held in Marbella, Spain on 15 October.

Famed as the ‘Oscars of Luxury’, the organisation separates the exceptional hospitality and lifestyle brands from the very best with the bestowing of the Signum Virtutis, translated to Seal of Excellence. Qatar Airways’ Al Safwa First Lounge becomes the world’s first lounge to be presented with the special award and joins an elite class of establishments awarded the Seal of Excellence.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are very proud to receive this prestigious seven star award for our Al Safwa First Lounge. Qatar Airways is truly committed to creating the very best travel experiences, both in the air and on the ground, and this exclusive Seal of Excellence for the Seven Star First Class Lounge Award exemplifies the tireless effort that continually goes into the detail of service delivery and design to form the ultimate luxury experience that we provide our customers.

”Inspired by Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar Airways’ Al Safwa First Lounge features a number of Islamic fine art installations and artefacts on loan from Doha’s national museum as part of a continuous partnership. Passengers can also enjoy a la carte dining, a full business centre, a luxury spa, a cinematic media or games room, and a dedicated family area. Private rooms featuring a bed, TV, desk and private bathroom with a shower are available, or guests may relax in one of the many luxurious spaces available throughout the expansive lounge while experiencing Qatar’s warm Arabian hospitality.

Qatar Airways Senior Vice President of Customer Experience, Mr. Rossen Dimitrov, said: “To be awarded the Seven Star First Class Lounge Award and to receive the Seal of Excellence is an incredible honour, and is testament to the commitment every Qatar Airways employee brings to creating memorable travel experiences for our customers. Still in its first year of operation, the Al Safwa First Lounge has been providing customers with an unparalleled level of luxury and we look forward to welcoming even more customers to our award-winning lounges as part of their journey with Qatar Airways.”

Qatar Airways’ Al Safwa First Lounge is available to passengers travelling in the airline’s First Class on its premier fleet of A380 aircraft. Qatar Airways offers a First Class service on select flights to London, Paris, Bangkok, Guangzhou in China, and most recently, Sydney, where A380 service debuted on 15 September.

The Seven Star First Class Lounge Award is the latest addition to a number of other accolades achieved by the airline this year, including World’s Best Business Class, Best Business Class Airline Lounge, and Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East at the prestigious 2016 Skytrax World Airline Awards.